Left 4 Dead 2 Demo Impressions

[The 1 2 P]

I'm surprised theres no thread for this considering it's one of the biggest third party exclusive games coming out this holiday season. As a person who has never played the first L4D I was very impressed by what I played. I'm use to having a little breathing room in my shooters but thats not possible with this one and that works perfectly for this type of gameplay.

The demo lets you play either a single player mission with AI controlled team mates or a co-op mission with human controller team mates. When I first played yesterday I jumped right into a co-op game and was surprised to find three other players on my team with mics(you can go into the game with a party or random matchmaking). I was also surprised that they were all very supportive of each other, including me who was the noob of the team still learning the ropes. Today I did the single player mission to better grasp the control scheme and play mechanics.

I've always heard nothing but great things about the first game and now I see what all the fuse is about. Definitely another great addictive XBL co-op game to keep me occupied for hours on end. What did you guys think of the demo?

[kai123]

I played it on pc and loved it. I loved the first one so I am a little biased.

[BHvrd]

This game is the one reason I want a 360. I've really wanted to give co-op a try as I have the PC version and have had a blast with it. I plan on doing the code modifier though to hook it up to an HDTV and play co-op through computer instead "better resolution and all".

I've been really shocked that Valve has shunned PS3 like it has and honestly the Half Life Orange Box collection had no problems I could notice.

Regardless this is a great game that should be on every system and enjoyed by the masses, it's one of the best ideas in gaming to come out in the past few years and despite the sequel fiasco it really looks like they've done alot to pump it up and make it better.

[Ed Oscuro]

So how does the control of the 360 version compare to the original 360 L4D? And the terrible framerate, for that matter? The original was next thing to unplayable. Great on PC though ;)

[Solertia]

Just played the L4D2 demo (PC) last night and I can already tell it's gonna be way better than the first one! And I loved the first one!

[skaar]

This game is the one reason I want a 360.

Then stop turning down deals on them :P

Should be a great title, looking forward to it. L4D still didn't really have enough staying power for me to warrant a full price purchase. I'll wait awhile and catch up on the other games sitting on the shelf in the meantime.

[Nature Boy]

I was underwhelmed personally, being an owner of the first L4D. It just felt more or less the same to me, just with different people and special infected making up the experience.

I'm personally hoping that my L4D buddies don't go out and buy the sequel because for the money I'd rather continue to stick with the original. The original is a game I could totally fire up and play any one of the four missions again at the drop of a hat at any time.

[VanHelzen]

I was underwhelmed personally, being an owner of the first L4D. It just felt more or less the same to me, just with different people and special infected making up the experience.

I agree with Nature Boy. I played the demo for a couple o' rounds and all that I really gathered from it was that I wouldn't pay another 60 bones for something that is pretty much a map pack with a slight gameplay addition.

Heck, I got a map pack with a slight gameplay addition for free on Brütal Legend only two days ago...

[BHvrd]

I wouldn't pay another 60 bones

I agree there for sure, I'll wait till it's about $30.

As far as what I played in the demo, the stages have more branching paths so it makes it where team work and "bunching up" are not necessarily the way to play anymore and will actually get you killed, I like that. You have to be a little more freelance/strategic now and with the special infected being more spread out like with the one that spits acid and the one that is slow but jumps on your back you'll have a better chance than like 3 guys getting fast ass hunters.

I like the new direction, seems like it will be less hectic and you will be able to plan better strategies as the survivors.

[kaedesdisciple]

Are there a lot team-killing douches in this one? Had one while playing the demo this morning, because of him the infected flooded the safehouse before we could close the door.

[BHvrd]

Are there a lot team-killing douches in this one? Had one while playing the demo this morning, because of him the infected flooded the safehouse before we could close the door.

A better question imo is:

When is there never a douche in an online game these days?

[The Clonus Horror]

I think this is maybe because it's a sequel, but I didn't have the same "wow" sensation that I did as when I played the original for the first time. That being said, I didn't find anything inherently wrong with it either. It was fun, but the first one has a lot of replay value left for me still. I can see myself picking this one up in the future at a lower price point.

[Enigmus]

A better question imo is:

When is there never a douche in an online game these days?


There's always 2 or 3. My friend has the demo, and he got booted just because of a whiny seven year old bawling over not getting a health pack he'd use at 3/4 health.

It's a bunch of fanboys and eight year olds. It's been so since atleast the first Halo, and it will never end...

...until Gates gets off his lazy ass and bans all the people under 12 from those games. It'd be genius. Might push more units, too.

[The Clonus Horror]

Alright, I buckled when I saw them stocking it a Wal-Mart this morning and picked it up. All I can say is that I had a lot of fun playing the first two chapters of the first campaign. Maybe it was just the level they chose for the demo, but I now feel that there is definitely enough that is different to make it exciting and also enough that is the same to make it comfortable. That's a winner in my book.

[kai123]

I have to say I downloaded the 360 demo because some friends were going to get it...I am glad I did. The 360 version felt terrible. It had a piss poor frame rate and it felt like it dragged a little IDK. I think if I hadn't played the pc demo first I would have been impressed. PC for the win on this one.

[The Clonus Horror]

I haven't played L4D or L4D2 on my PC, so I have nothing to compare it to. I am very tempted to pick the first one up for PC just for the Teletubbies mod. Creepy and hilarious.

[BHvrd]

Well the bots seem to go to great lengths to help you this time, well er... see for yourself, lol:

http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/left-4-dead-2-daring-bot/334962?playlist=featured

[Hari Seldon]

It's too soon to be interested in L4D2. I still feel like i'm paying full prize for something that started (and should be) an expansion.

[misfits859]

Gamestop will be selling the for $40 on Black Friday. FYI.